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He said Mr Ford had 'almost made it' from one side of the road to the other when the collision took place.

The pensioner was struck by the lorry's front nearside, throwing him in the air, causing multiple injuries and he was certified dead at the scene.

Mr Gabb said: "Whilst the tragedy is Mr Ford as a pedestrian may well have an element of responsibility for the accident, the primary responsibility is that of Mr Greenhalgh.

"Mr Ford had walked at least 7.1 metres from the driver's off side in to the road before he was stuck.

"What in that period of time was Mr Greenhalgh doing? Why wasn't he able to avoid the collision?

"The Crown say he wasn't, perhaps in a moment of inattention, he didn't or wasn't driving with due care and attention because we say if he was this accident wouldn't have happened because he had time to stop."